Yackee addresses young African leaders; networking event is July 13

Twenty-five young African leaders participating in the Mandela Washington Fellowship Program learned about the principles of public management from La Follette School Director Susan Yackee on Thursday, June 23.

UW-Madison’s African Studies Program is hosting the fellows for a six-week academic and leadership institute sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. La Follette School faculty, students, alumni, and staff are invited to meet and network with the fellows from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 13 on the Memorial Union Terrace.

On Wednesday, June 29, La Follette School Professor Don Moynihan gave a presentation about leadership skills in public organizations – using the example of Paul Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank.

Mandela Washington participants represent a variety of fields, including medicine, public health, law, education, and community engagement. The fellows, who are between the ages of 25 and 35, have established records of accomplishment in promoting innovation and positive change in their organizations, institutions, communities, and countries. In 2015, fellows represented all 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

UW-Madison is one of 36 universities in the United States to host 1,000 fellows, who will gather in Washington, DC, for a Presidential Summit after their time on campus.

“These fellows are leaders before they come to the U.S.,” says Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a UW–Madison alumna. “We picked them because they’re leaders, and we want to give them additional tools for leadership.”